The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of High-Voltage Pulsed Current (HVPC) and ultrasound on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Adjuvant arthritis was induced in female Sprauge-Dawley rats by the subcutaneous injection of a single dose of 1 ㎖ of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) (1 mg of Mycobacterium Butyricum suspended in 1 ㎖ paraffin oil) into the right hind paw. A randomized, parallel-groups design of 24 subjects was used. All rats were randomly assigned to control (n=8), ultrasound (n=8), and HVPC (n=8) were compared with those of injured rats. The rats in the pulsed ultrasound group were treated at 1 MHz frequency with 5 W/㎠ intensity in 1:4 mode for 5 minutes per day. The rats in the HVPC group were treated at 120 pulses per second and 50 ㎲ phase duration, 20 mA intensity for 30 min per day. Treatment was done in the left and right hind limb for 2 weeks. We evaluated clinical, radiographic, hematologic and histopathologic findings before and after treatment and obtained the following results. 1. Edema of the right hind paw was more significantly reduced in the ultrasound and HVPC groups than the control group on days 9, 12, and 14 (p<.05). Edema of the left hind paw was more significantly reduced in ultrasound and HVPC groups than the control group on days 12, 14 (p<.05). 2. WBC counts of the ultrasound and HVPC groups as compared with the control group were becoming remarkably decreased after the treatment. 3. In radiologic findings, arthritis formation was seen according to the score of arthritis, which was the highest in the control group, upon the observation of radiographs of the left and right hind paws. However, no statistically significant difference was present in the score within three groups. 4. In the histopathologic findings, ultrasound and HVPC groups had effectively suppressed erosions of articular cartilage and inflammatory cell infiltrations. Therefore, the results of the study show that rats that were treated with the ultrasound and HVPC effectively suppressed adjuvant arthritis. However, no statistically significant difference was present between the ultrasound group and the HVPC group.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether high voltage pulsed current stimulation (HVPCS) would enhance wound healing in neuropathic rabbits. Ten rabbits were assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The wounded part around the peripheral neuropathy of the experimental rabbits was stimulated for two hours twice a day for six days under the following conditions: pulse frequency 80 pps, pulse duration , and stimulation intensity 30~40 V. The results indicated that there was no difference in the wound closure between the experimental and control groups. The two groups showed similar aspects in collagen and reticulum, which were observed by colored Masson's trichome. While the rabbits in the control group had more or less thick fibers, the rabbits in the experimental group had thin and branched-shape fibers. The rabbits in the experimental group showed both strong responses in the shaping of elastic fibers and the increased aspects in fibroblast when compared with the control group.

This study was performed to assess the efficacy of high voltage pulsed galvanic current for the healing of wounds in rabbits. Skin wounds were created laterally on the flank of 12 domestic rabbits(). The wounds of each group were treated with an intensity of 170 V at a frequency of 70 pulses per second, which was applied for 30 minutes a day for 10 days. The experimental groups were randomly assigned to either EXP I (n=3), EXP II(n=3), EXP III(n=3) or control(n=3). Each group was stimulated under the following conditions : 1) EXP I (Negative polarity), 2) EXP II (Change in polarity, negative electrode stimulation during the first 3 days and then positive electrode stimulation from 4 to 10 days), 3) EXP III(Positive polarity), 4) control(No stimulation). An active electrode was placed over the wound and a dispersive electrode on the buttock. The rate of wound closure was compared with the original wound size, evaluated by a tracing film in each measurement period. Finally, on the wound in each group, skin tissue was excised for histological evaluation after treatment for 10 days. The results obtained are as follows : 1) It was found that the control group did not show a complete remodeling of epitherial layer and had a chronic inflammatory response. Judging from the irregularity of intercellular space and the loose alignment of connective tissue, these findings show that wound healing was delayed. 2) EXP I showed a significant bactericidal effect, but a moderate response of vasodilation. The rate of wound closure was slower when compared with EXP II, III. 3) EXP II showed a complete remodeling of epitherial layer and a positive repair of connective tissue. Its rate of wound closure was best when compared with the others. 4) EXP III had a slower rate of wound closure than EXP II, but judging from the greater proliferation of collagen fibers and the dense alignment of connective tissue, this positive electrode was very effective in the formation of neo - connective tissue.

High Voltage Pulsed Current Stimulation(HVPCS) and Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation(MENS) have been used to promote the healing of decubitus ulcer and surgical wounds. The benefits of HVPCS and MENS are thought to include an inhibitive effect on bacterial growth. The purpose of this study was to compare the inhibitive effect of two different electrical stimulation techniques growth in vitro. Using agarose-based media, the two bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, Esherichia coli - which are commonly isolated from open wounds were incubated in an incubator for 24 hours following exposure to HVPCS(400 V, 120 pps, ) and MENS(, 0.3 Hz). We then measured the zone of inhibition around each electrode. Both HVPCS and MENS produced an inhibitive effect on bacterial growth in this vitro study. However MENS was more effective than HVPCS.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single treatment o voltage pulsed current (HVPC) on edema reduction. Hind limbs of 23 anesthetized were injured by dropping a 400 g weight onto the plantar aspects of the feet. On limb of each frog was randomly selected to receive 30 minutes of continuous, 12 cathodal HVPC at voltages 10 % less than motor threshold levels. Limb volumes measured by water displacement before trauma and at predetermined intervals hours posttrauma. Sources of significant differences were determined by t-test HVPC significantly (p<0.05) reduced edema formation. We hypothesize that HVP also be effective in controlling edema formation after impact injuries in humans.